What is an example of individual discrimination?

Individual discrimination occurs when a person treats another individual unfairly based on personal characteristics, such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, or other traits. In this context, the scenario of a teacher giving unfair grades based on a student's background exemplifies individual discrimination. This action reflects the teacher's biased judgment and leads to unequal treatment of students, adversely affecting their academic outcomes based on characteristics irrelevant to their capabilities or efforts.

The other options illustrate forms of discrimination that are not individual in nature. For instance, company policies that favor certain social groups represent systemic or institutional discrimination rather than the actions of a single individual. Media portrayals of social groups can contribute to societal stereotypes and prejudices on a broader level but do not exemplify individual actions. Similarly, government regulations affecting businesses may reflect general societal biases but are enacted at a systemic level, not indicative of individual discrimination.